Season guide · Banff · Canada
Banff in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Turquoise lakes, open hiking trails, teahouses and shuttles; very busy, with high prices and full parking lots. Expect highs up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 5°C (41°F), with about 40 rainy days across June–August. June–August are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 5°C (41°F) to 22°C (72°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 40
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 19°C (66°F) | 5°C (41°F) | 15 | 16.5 h | 4/5 |
| July | 22°C (72°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 13 | 16.1 h | 5/5 |
| August | 22°C (72°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 12 | 14.6 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 9°C (48°F), and 40 of the year's roughly 136 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- July: Canada Day parade and celebrations in Banff (1 July)
Good choices for summer
Historic site · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
Cave and Basin National Historic Site
Walk or cycle the flat Sundance trail beyond the site for an easy river outing.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Nature
Museum · Downtown Banff
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
A gallery and archive of mountain art and history, with paintings of the Rockies, exhibits on mountaineering guides and early tourism, and heritage cabins on its grounds by the Bow River.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Downtown Banff
Banff Park Museum
Visit with children before a hike so they can recognise the animals you might see.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
Banff Upper Hot Springs
A heritage bathhouse on Sulphur Mountain with an outdoor pool fed by natural hot springs at around 37–40°C, looking across to Mount Rundle.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
- Rainy day
Architecture · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
Fairmont Banff Springs
Afternoon tea or a drink in the lounge is the easiest way to see inside without staying.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Couples
- Rainy day
Day trips in summer
- Yoho National Park (About 1 hour by car) — Just across the Continental Divide in British Columbia, Yoho has Emerald Lake with its canoe rentals and lakeside trail, the natural rock bridge on the Kicking Horse River and Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada's highest waterfalls.
- Kootenay National Park and Marble Canyon (About 45 minutes by car) — A short trail at Marble Canyon crosses footbridges over a narrow limestone gorge of glacial blue water, and the Paint Pots trail leads to ochre-coloured mineral springs.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Banff?
Yes: June–August are among the best months. Turquoise lakes, open hiking trails, teahouses and shuttles; very busy, with high prices and full parking lots.
+What is the weather like in Banff in summer?
Highs of up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 5°C (41°F), with about 40 rainy days over the season.